page_title: United States Air Force Plant 42
section_title: Postwar use
hierarchical_section_title: United States Air Force Plant 42 / History / Postwar use
caption_attribution_description: English: The Shuttle Enterprise rolls out of the Palmdale manufacturing facilities with Star Trek television cast members. From left to right they are: Dr. James C. Fletcher (NASA Administrator), DeForest Kelley (Dr. "Bones" McCoy), George Takei (Mr. Sulu), James Doohan (Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura), Leonard Nimoy (the indefatigable Mr. Spock), Gene Roddenberry (The Great Bird of the Galaxy), an unnamed official (probably from the NASA), and Walter Koenig (Ensign Pavel Chekov). Deutsch: Das NASA-Shuttle Enterprise vor der Werksanlage in Palmdale, mit der Star-Trek-Besetzung. Von links nach rechts: Dr. James C. Fletcher (damaliger Leiter der NASA), DeForest Kelley (Dr. "Pille" McCoy), George Takei (Mr. Sulu), James Doohan (Chefingenieur "Scotty" Scott), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura), Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), Gene Roddenberry (der Erfinder von Star Trek), ein unbenannter Offizieller (vermutlich von der NASA) und Walter Koenig (Fähnrich Pavel Chekov). Español: El transbordador espacial Enterprise fue presentado en la planta industrial de Palmdale, con los protagonistas de la serie de television Star Trek. De izquierda a derecha: Dr. James C. Fletcher (Director de la NASA), DeForest Kelley (Dr. "Bones" McCoy), George Takei (Mr. Sulu), James Doohan (Ingeniero en jefe Montgomery "Scotty" Scott), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura), Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), Gene Roddenberry (el creador de la serie), un funcionario no identificado (probablemente de la NASA), y Walter Koenig (Alférez Pavel Chekov).
context_page_description: United States Air Force Plant 42 is a classified aircraft manufacturing plant owned by the United States Air Force in the Antelope Valley, about 60 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It is also used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  Plant 42 shares a runway with Palmdale Regional Airport.
context_section_description: Palmdale Army Airfield was declared a surplus facility in 1946 and was purchased by Los Angeles County for use as a municipal airport. The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 caused the Air Force to reactivate the property for use in final assembly and flight testing of military jet aircraft.
  Both the Air Force and its aircraft contractors needed a location away from major population centers - due to sonic booms, other noises and security concerns - but close enough to the major centers of aircraft design and production, while having excellent flying weather the year around. The land which became Plant 42 fit these criteria. Consequently, the Air Force agreed to purchase the land from Los Angeles County in 1951.
  The Air Force awarded a contract to Lockheed Aircraft to develop the master plan for the site. The plan was to construct a facility that would meet the requirements of full war mobilization and augment the industrial production potential of the major airframe manufacturing industry in southern California.
  The concept for Air Force Plant 42 originated in the challenge of flight testing high performance jet aircraft over heavily populated areas. Following approval of the Master Plan in 1953, the Palmdale Airport officially became Air Force Plant 42; ownership of the installation was transferred to the Federal Government in 1954. 
  With USAF encouragement, Lockheed, looked upon with favor by the Air Force at this time, established its permanent presence at Plant 42. It signed a lease in 1956 for 237 acres to use Palmdale Airport for final assembly and flight testing.
caption: The Space Shuttle Enterprise rolls out of the Palmdale manufacturing facilities with Star Trek cast and crew members in September 1976.
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